Scottish Executive

Arts

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much it, and the former Scottish Office, have allocated to travelling theatre companies in each financial year since 1995-96, broken down by company.

Mr Frank McAveety: I have asked Graham Berry, Director of the Scottish Arts Council to respond. His response is as follows:

  The information requested is provided in the document Scottish Arts Council Grants Awarded to Travelling Theatre Companies 1995 – 2004, a copy of which has been placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 30515).

Autism

Carolyn Leckie (Central Scotland) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to replicate across the whole of Scotland the study conducted within the education department of Highland Council on the level of incidence of autism in the council area.

Mr Tom McCabe: The study conducted by Highland Council was for local planning purposes and the Scottish Executive has no plans to replicate it. However, we asked all NHS boards and local authorities in Scotland to conduct an audit of autistic spectrum disorder education, social care and health services in 2003 and an analysis of that information will be published in due course.

Autism

Carolyn Leckie (Central Scotland) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the reasons are for the incidence level of one in every 49 primary schoolchildren with autism or suspected autism in the Highland Council area.

Mr Tom McCabe: The study conducted by Highland Council, which asked teachers to identify the numbers of children whose support needs were associated with characteristics of autistic spectrum disorder, cannot be regarded as clinical data on the incidence or prevalence of autistic spectrum disorder in primary schoolchildren.

Autism

Carolyn Leckie (Central Scotland) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive what research is underway to determine the cause, or causes, of the rise in the number of children diagnosed with autism.

Malcolm Chisholm: The National Research Register (NRR), a UK-wide research database, records that there are 32 on-going research projects in the UK on autism. On the more specific question of the cause or causes of the rise in diagnosis, three of the studies are looking at the prevalence of autism but the NRR does not appear to record any on-going projects looking specifically at this area.

  On research on autism more generally, eight of the 32 on-going projects recorded on the NRR are being funded by the Medical Research Council at a cost of over £5 million. These are aimed at understanding both the biological and psychological causes and effects of autism.

  Details of these projects are available from the NRR, a copy of which is in the Parliament's Reference Centre (Bib. number 17404).

Autism

Carolyn Leckie (Central Scotland) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many children with autism have been medically examined in the last five years to determine common biological and physiological factors; whether such examination results are collated and, if so, where they are held.

Mr Tom McCabe: The information requested is not held centrally.

Autism

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to establish an autism-specific medical facility at a hospital to address the medical needs of those with autism.

Mr Tom McCabe: The Scottish Executive has no such plans. We are committed to improving services for people with autistic spectrum disorders through improved assessment and diagnosis, more information and training for a range of professionals, and better inter-agency working.

Blind and Partially Sighted People

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive on what basis any decision is taken regarding support for the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association.

Mr Tom McCabe: Following expressions of concern regarding the proposal by the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association to close the School of Vision and Rehabilitation Studies in Glasgow, an agreement between the Executive and the association to keep the school open for one further course was announced by Mr McCabe at the launch of  An Action Plan – Community Care Services for People with a Sensory Impairment, published by the Executive on 12 January 2004. This agreement will allow for full consideration of all the relevant issues in respect of the training of rehabilitation workers in the longer term. All relevant stakeholders will be included in these longer term discussions.

Blind and Partially Sighted People

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to support the provision of aids and adaptations for blind people, specifically with regard to guide dogs and white canes.

Malcolm Chisholm: The Scottish Executive published Equipped for Inclusion – Report of the Strategy Forum: Equipment and Adaptations  in 2003. This report made recommendations on ways in which the provision of these services, which includes those items used by blind people, could be improved. A ministerial response to the report will be produced in due course.

Carers

Michael Matheson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-4264 by Mr Tom McCabe on 5 December 2003, what level of funding under the Carers Strategy has been utilised for respite care provision by each local authority since April 2000.

Mr Tom McCabe: The Executive's monitoring of local authority expenditure under the Carers Strategy sought to establish through Community Care Plans, and annual updates, how much was being spent on respite and on other services to support carers. Despite Executive guidance on the data required, in the first two years of the strategy, authorities provided information in differing formats. This made meaningful comparisons difficult. To improve matters, information on local authorities' expenditure on respite, and other services to support carers, is now being collected through centralised financial returns. Figures for 2002-03 will be available shortly. These returns will indicate expenditure on respite and on other services to support carers. They will not identify how much of the spending on respite comes from Carers Strategy resources, as these are only part of the total resources from which authorities may finance such expenditure.

Debt

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has on the average (a) household debt per annum and (b) household monthly income for each year since 1997.

Ms Margaret Curran: There is no centrally held information on levels of household debt in Scotland.

  The table shows estimates for median equivalised net household income, before and after housing costs, for each of the years 1996-97 to 2001-02 inclusive, all in 2001-02 prices.

  Equivalisation takes account of the size and composition of the household (see footnote to table), and it is this measure of income that is used in the official low income statistics.

  The figures in the tables are estimates only derived from a sample survey, the Family Resources Survey (FRS). The sample size of the FRS in Scotland is small, and so these estimates are subject to considerable sampling variability.

  Median Equivalised Net Household Income

  (£ per month in 2001-02 prices)

  


Year

Before Housing Costs

After Housing Costs



1996-97

1,144

988



1997-98

1,185

1,021



1998-99

1,187

1,032



1999-2000

1,226

1,083



2000-01

1,224

1,085



2001-02

1,321

1,177



  Equivalisation is the process whereby household income is adjusted to take account of the size and composition of the household in order to make comparisons of living standards between different household types. This adjustment reflects the notion that a family of several people requires a higher income than a single person in order for both households to enjoy a comparable standard of living.

Debt

Trish Godman (West Renfrewshire) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding has been made available for the selection, training and appointment of debt counsellors under the Debt Arrangement and Attachment (Scotland) Act 2002 and which organisations carried out the training.

Mrs Mary Mulligan: In anticipation of the impact of the Debt Arrangement and Attachment (Scotland) Act 2002, the Executive has provided an additional £3 million per annum to boost the number of money advisers in Scotland. This funding resulted in an extra 120 advisers across the sector in 2002-03.

  In addition to this the Executive has established MATRICS (Money Advice Training, Resources, Information and Consultancy Services), a central support organisation run in partnership by Money Advice Scotland and Citizens Advice Scotland backed by £1 million funding over two years. A key function of MATRICS is to increase the provision of training available to the money advice sector.

Economy

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, with reference to objective 1, target 2 of the Enterprise and Lifelong Learning chapter of its Draft Budget 2004-05 , which quartile of Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development countries Scotland's level of business investment in research and development falls into; how much businesses have spent on research and development in the current year; what percentage increase this figure represents on previous years, and how much of its budget, including those of its agencies and non-departmental public bodies, has been spent on assisting businesses with research and development in each of the last four years.

Mr Jim Wallace: The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) monitors research and development (R&D) spending by 29 member countries. The latest available figures refer to 2001.

  In terms of expenditure by businesses on R&D as a percentage of Gross Domestic Product, Scotland would be in the third quartile of OECD countries in 2001.

  The level of R&D expenditure by businesses is measured by an annual survey conducted by the Office for National Statistics. According to this survey, R&D expenditure undertaken in enterprises in Scotland was £512 million in 2001, rising to £640 million in 2002. At current prices the increase was 28% between 2000 and 2001 and 25% between 2001 and 2002.

  Information regarding the amount of spending from the Scottish Executive, its agencies and non-departmental public bodies on assisting businesses with R&D in each of the last four years is not held centrally.

Education

Fiona Hyslop (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many single pupil exclusions there have been that lasted for over one academic year in each year since 1999.

Peter Peacock: This information is not held centrally. The Executive is revising data collection to gain wider information from 2003-04. From 2004-05 data will be available on the length of exclusions.

Education

Fiona Hyslop (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many excluded pupils were provided with school education in (a) another school managed by the same education authority, (b) another school outwith the same education authority where the managers were willing to receive the pupil and (c) a setting outwith school, in each year since 1999.

Peter Peacock: This information is not held centrally. For 2003-04 onwards, the Executive is collecting a wider set of data on exclusions, including the location of alternative education provision for excluded pupils.

Environment

Rosie Kane (Glasgow) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-4016 by Ross Finnie on 24 November 2003, what safeguards it has, or will, put in place regarding any environmental impact of the decommissioning of nuclear submarines and storage of nuclear material.

Ross Finnie: The decommissioning of redundant nuclear submarines is a reserved matter. Any proposal in Scotland will be subject to environmental regulation and planning controls. This would be done by the independent regulator, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA), under the terms of authorisations for the disposal of radioactive waste, granted by SEPA under the Radioactive Substances Act 1993 and if Crown Immunity is to be applied within the terms of a letter of agreement with SEPA. It is for the planning authority in the first instance to consider whether a particular planning proposal falls within the descriptions in the environmental impact assessment regulations. Both procedures are subject to widespread consultation.

Environment

Rosie Kane (Glasgow) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-4016 by Ross Finnie on 24 November 2003, what safeguards it has, or will, put in place in respect of the environmental impact of any terrorist attack on Ministry of Defence bases involved in the decommissioning of nuclear submarines and the storage of nuclear material.

Ross Finnie: Safeguards against terrorism for such sites is a matter for the Ministry of Defence. The Executive and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency would participate in the multi-agency response to any incident involving a radiological release at an Ministry of Defence base in Scotland.

European Working Time Directive

Brian Adam (Aberdeen North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans there are in the NHS to address the impact of the European Working Time Directive on out-of-normal hours working in laboratories and who has been consulted on any such plans.

Malcolm Chisholm: All employers must comply with the Working Time Regulations. The regulations came into force in 1998 for all NHS staff, except doctors in training who will be included progressively from August 2004. Guidance has been issued to all NHSScotland employers drawing their attention to the requirements of the regulations, including the provisions concerning resident on-call and compensatory rest. It is for local health systems to plan within this legislative framework and to make appropriate arrangements for consultation.

Fire Service

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive when Mott MacDonald Communication and Controls Division was commissioned to review the operation of fire service control rooms; what the remit of the review is; what the value is of Mott MacDonald's consultancy contract; what criteria were applied in appointing the company; how many companies bid for the contract; what Mott MacDonald's timetable is for reporting its findings, and whether the report will be made public.

Hugh Henry: An intention to review future control room arrangements in Scotland was expressed in our policy consultation paper The Scottish Fire Service of the Future published in April 2002 and confirmed in our recent publication The Scottish Fire Service: Proposals for Legislation . Mott MacDonald were commissioned in October 2003 to provide independent advice as an extension to a contract placed by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister. The contract was placed with Mott MacDonald as they have particular experience of the very specific area of fire service control rooms. The remit of the study is as follows:

  consider the impact and implications of New Dimension on the operational and management arrangements of the fire service and the associated risks, opportunities, and issues in the context of control rooms;

  consider the impact and implications of the consultative documents The Scottish Fire Service of the Future, The Scottish Fire Service: Proposals for Legislation and the proposed modernisation of control rooms;

  investigate the operational effectiveness of existing control rooms and arrangements during the industrial dispute together with lessons learned that might be derived from this experience;

  investigate and report on new international experience, particularly the operational outcomes of 11 September 2001 and the associated lessons that may inform any future arrangements;

  to explore the issues associated with electronic service delivery and the potential impact on control room operations;

  to make recommendations and provide an outline implementation plan for their delivery.

  The value of the contract placed is commercially confidential. Mott MacDonald will submit their recommendations by early January 2004 and they will be considered, together with responses to the consultation exercise, as part of the preparations for the planned Fire Services Bill.

Fisheries

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the timetable is for the replacement of fishery protection vessels for the Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency for the next five years.

Ross Finnie: The Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency is currently procuring a replacement for FPV SULISKER to be operational by the end of 2005 and the Agency's planned requirements for further vessel replacements thereafter will be considered in future spending reviews.

Fisheries

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what budget is available to the Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency for the replacement of fishery protection vessels.

Ross Finnie: A budget of £15.0 million has been made available to the Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency for the replacement of FPV SULISKER by end 2005. To date no additional funds have been allocated for further vessel replacements.

Fuel Poverty

Tricia Marwick (Mid Scotland and Fife) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what impact the 5.9% increase in Scottish Gas prices will have on the number of people living in fuel poverty.

Mrs Mary Mulligan: The information requested could only be obtained at disproportionate cost. However, we expect the follow-up report on fuel poverty from the Scottish House Condition Survey 2002 to include information on modelled fuel price increases for all of Scotland.

Fuel Poverty

Tommy Sheridan (Glasgow) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the methods of calculation used in respect of fuel poverty in the Scottish House Conditions Survey 2002, with particular reference to free school milk, community care grants and funeral payments being treated as sources of income, ensured that all households in fuel poverty were included in the survey and, if not, whether the number of such households was underestimated as a result.

Ms Margaret Curran: The Scottish House Conditions Survey 2002 did not disaggregate income sources to the level where free school meals and other "benefits in kind" can be separately identified within the overall calculation of household income. However, there is no reason to believe that fuel poor households were systematically excluded from the survey nor that it has underestimated the number of fuel poor households in Scotland.

General Practitioners

Mr Adam Ingram (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive under what circumstances GPs may refuse to treat patients.

Malcolm Chisholm: The Terms of Service for GPs are set out in the National Health Service (General Medical Services) (Scotland) Regulations 1995. These require a GP to provide for patients all necessary and appropriate treatment of the type which might reasonably be expected from GPs as a class. They also require a GP to exercise professional judgement as to the degree and standard of such treatment. In exercising this professional judgement it is open to a GP to refuse to provide particular treatment which the GP deems inappropriate.

  Professional advice from the General Medical Council makes it clear that GPs may take reasonable steps to protect their health or safety as required before investigating a patient's condition or providing treatment.

Health

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to the question S1W-33587 by Malcolm Chisholm on 12 February 2003, what the timetable is for introducing the updated patients charter.

Malcolm Chisholm: Patient Rights and Responsibilities was issued for national consultation last year and a revised document is currently being developed by the Scottish Consumer Council to reflect the comments received. The revised draft will be circulated amongst the key stakeholders for final comments and it is intended that the final document will be ready for issue by April 2004.

Health

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive which hospitals in each NHS board area are exclusively involved in paediatric medicine.

Malcolm Chisholm: There are three hospitals exclusively involved in paediatric medicine:

  Royal Aberdeen Children's Hospital – NHS Grampian

  Royal Hospital for Sick Children in Glasgow - NHS Greater Glasgow

  Royal Hospital for Sick Children in Edinburgh - NHS Lothian

Health

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive which hospitals in each NHS board area have an (a) general paediatric and (b) specialist paediatric (i) department or (ii) unit, showing the specialism undertaken.

Malcolm Chisholm: The Royal Hospital for Sick Children Edinburgh, the Royal Hospital for Sick Children Glasgow and the Royal Aberdeen Children's Hospital provide specialist services on a regional and national basis whilst providing a general paediatric service to their local population. NHS board areas in Scotland that have a general paediatric unit are listed in table 1.

  Table 1: General Paediatric Medical Units by NHS Board Area and Hospital1 

  


 Area

Hospital



Argyll and Clyde
Inverclyde Royal Hospital
Royal Alexandra Hospital
Vale of Leven District General Hospital



Ayrshire and Arran
Ayrshire Central Hospital
Crosshouse Hospital
The Ayr Hospital



Borders

Borders General Hospital



Dumfries and Galloway

Dumfries and Galloway Royal Infirmary



Fife
Forth Park Hospital
Victoria Hospital



Forth Valley
Falkirk and District Royal Infirmary
Stirling Royal Infirmary



Grampian
Aberdeen Maternity Hospital
Dr Gray's Hospital
Royal Aberdeen Children's Hospital



Greater Glasgow
Queen Mother's Hospital
Royal Hospital for Sick Children
Southern General Hospital
The Princess Royal Maternity Unit



Lanarkshire
Monklands Hospital
Wishaw General Hospital



Lothian
New Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh
Royal Hospital for Sick Children
St John's Hospital At Howden



Tayside
Ninewells Hospital
Perth Royal Infirmary



Western Isles

Western Isles Hospital



  Note:

  1. As at March 2003.

Health

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many beds are assigned to paediatric services in each NHS board area, broken down by hospital and detailing any specialisms in paediatric medicine assigned to those beds.

Malcolm Chisholm: Information on average available staffed medical and surgical paediatric beds for the year ending 31 March 2003 is shown in Table 1.

  The information for specialisms in paediatric medicine assigned to those beds is not held centrally.

  Table 1: NHSiS - Average Available Staffed Beds; by Health Board Area and Location: Year Ending 31 March 2003 (Provisional)

  


 Area

Medical Paediatrics

Surgical Paediatrics



Scotland

738

125



Argyll and Clyde

 59

-


Inverclyde Royal Hospital
Royal Alexandra Hospital
Vale of Leven District General Hospital

 19

-



 34

-



 6

-



Ayrshire and Arran

 62

-


Ayrshire Central Hospital
Crosshouse Hospital
The Ayr Hospital

 25

-



 26

-



 11

-



Borders

 17

-



Borders General Hospital

 17

-



Dumfries and Galloway

 14

 8



Dumfries and Galloway Royal Infirmary

 14

 8



Fife

 48

 2



Forth Park Hospital

 20

-



Victoria Hospital

 28

 2



Forth Valley

 48

-



Falkirk and District Royal Infirmary

 14

-



Stirling Royal Infirmary

 34

-



Grampian

 78

 18



Aberdeen Maternity Hospital

 38

-



Dr Gray's Hospital

 7

 4



Royal Aberdeen Children's Hospital

 33

 13



Greater Glasgow

 142

 71



Queen Mother's Hospital

 28

-



Royal Hospital for Sick Children

 64

 71



Southern General Hospital

 16

-



The Princess Royal Maternity Unit

 34

-



Highland

 33

-



Raigmore Hospital

 33

-



Lanarkshire

 63

-



Monklands Hospital

 6

-



Wishaw General Hospital

 58

-



Lothian

 105

 18



New Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh

 44

-



Royal Hospital for Sick Children

 36

 18



St John's Hospital At Howden

 25

-



Tayside

 69

 8



Ninewells Hospital

 58

 8



Perth Royal Infirmary

 11

-



Western Isles

 1

-



Western Isles Hospital

 1

-



  Source: ISD Scotland [Form ISD(S)1.

  Reference: ISD/ACIG/IR2003-01684.

  Date: 22-12-03.

Health

Donald Gorrie (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has issued guidelines to NHS boards and trusts with regard to the regular testing of NHS clinical staff for methycillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus and, if so, what these guidelines are.

Malcolm Chisholm: Draft guidance on staff screening for health care associated infections (HAI) is being drawn up by a working group of the Ministerial Task Force on HAI as part of a wider document on management of HAI outbreaks. It is expected this will form the basis for a consultation process on a national screening policy early this year.

Health

Donald Gorrie (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what responsibility NHS boards and trusts have to provide regular testing of clinical staff to establish whether they are carriers of methycillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).

Malcolm Chisholm: Routine testing for MRSA is not currently recommended. The carrier state for MRSA in healthy individuals is usually brief and transitory, which makes routine screening difficult to apply and to interpret.

Health

Donald Gorrie (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what duty restrictions are placed on any NHS clinical staff members found to be carriers of methycillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).

Malcolm Chisholm: Restrictions on duty for staff found to be MRSA carriers would depend on the circumstances and on the clinical duties of the staff member involving patient contact. This issue will be dealt with in detail in a forthcoming guidance document on the control of health care associated infection outbreaks.

Health

Donald Gorrie (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many NHS clinical staff members have been identified as being carriers of methycillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in each of the last four years, broken down by NHS trust and board.

Malcolm Chisholm: This information is not held centrally.

Health

Ms Sandra White (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what safeguards will be out in place to ensure that ostomists will retain a right to choice of stoma appliance following publication of any report on responses to Appliance Contractors: Consultation Document .

Mr Tom McCabe: The options presented in the consultation document are intended to maintain and improve the provision of a quality service that meets all patients' needs, no matter which type of appliance they may require.

Health

Mr David Davidson (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many hospitals offer training to doctors and nurses on the avoidance, and management, of potentially violent situations.

Malcolm Chisholm: This information is not collected centrally. However, all NHSScotland employers should be assessing the risks to staff, analysing their training needs and providing appropriate training.

Health

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether there is a shortage of orthoptists.

Malcolm Chisholm: At present there is no indication of a shortage of orthoptists in NHSScotland.

Health

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has received on the need for an orthoptic school.

Malcolm Chisholm: The Scottish Executive has not received any recent representations about the need for an orthoptic school.

  The last representations made to the Scottish Executive about orthoptic services in Scotland were received in December 2002.

Housing

Roseanna Cunningham (Perth) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many social housing properties have been (a) vacant and (b) constructed in each of the last six years, broken down by local authority area.

Ms Margaret Curran: Table 1 shows the number of units of public sector normal letting stock vacant as at 31 March of each year. Housing association voids figures are collected by Communities Scotland, but related previously to number of re-lets throughout the year and were therefore not comparable to data collected by the Scottish Executive prior to 2003. Table 2 shows the number of vacant units for housing associations as at 31 March 2003. Table 3 shows the number of new build completions by financial year.

  Table 1

  Public Sector Normal Letting Stock Vacant as at 31 March: 1998 to 2003

  


Local Authority Area

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003



Scotland

6,128

9,163

10,370

9,716

8,175

8,127



Local authority

5,680

8,522

9,853

9,199

8,094

8,090



Aberdeen City

580

707

690

1,081

902

922



Aberdeenshire

52

..

77

133

153

201



Angus

37

43

34

64

85

68



Argyll and Bute

70

50

102

102

47

61



Clackmannanshire

67

68

77

48

132

119



Dumfries and Galloway

83

114

79

65

110

91



Dundee City

489

373

464

427

315

316



East Ayrshire

178

258

306

258

102

154



East Dunbartonshire

..

56

20

34

23

39



East Lothian

77

123

49

68

75

75



East Renfrewshire

..

..

55

105

89

75



Edinburgh, City of

490

301

780

429

552

552



Falkirk

46

53

50

27

18

38



Fife

155

129

180

259

266

266



Glasgow City

..

701

602

786

583

583



Highland

1,152

2,840

3,219

1,822

1,488

1,488



Inverclyde

106

136

210

216

273

220



Midlothian

..

346

329

215

258

51



Moray

58

42

37

48

32

51



North Ayrshire

..

20

20

31

42

28



North Lanarkshire

288

288

226

352

133

107



Orkney

315

316

266

216

280

323



Perth and Kinross

13

15

8

4

3

12



Renfrewshire

72

89

77

87

115

87



Scottish Borders, The

258

359

239

463

258

349



Shetland

..

70

282

358

353

353



South Ayrshire

102

..

119

144

102

122



South Lanarkshire

137

148

190

239

293

243



Stirling

369

448

542

572

433

469



West Dunbartonshire

50

115

90

93

45

7



West Lothian

398

273

418

436

506

545



Western Isles

38

41

16

17

28

82



Scottish Homes

448

641

517

517

81

37



  Source: returns by local authorities to Scottish Executive Development Department Analytical Services Division (Housing Statistics).

  Notes: excludes dwellings used as temporary accommodation for the homeless, dwellings awaiting demolition, dwellings which are part of a modernisation scheme and dwellings identified as being in a low demand area.

  Table 2

  Housing Association Voids as at 31 March 2003

  


Local Authority Area

Total Units



Scotland

9,468



Aberdeen City

57



Aberdeenshire

75



Angus

78



Argyll and Bute

29



Clackmannanshire

28



Dumfries and Galloway

28



Dundee City

991



East Ayrshire

98



East Dunbartonshire

11



East Lothian

30



East Renfrewshire

6



City of Edinburgh

336



Eilean Siar

4



Falkirk

54



Fife

144



City of Glasgow

5,998



Highland

87



Inverclyde

133



Midlothian

22



Moray

29



North Ayrshire

33



North Lanarkshire

91



Orkney Islands

1



Perth and Kinross

26



Renfrewshire

217



Scottish Borders

401



Shetland Islands

2



South Ayrshire

13



South Lanarkshire

67



Stirling

4



West Dunbartonshire

318



West Lothian

57



  Source: Annual Performance and Statistical returns by registered social landlords to Communities Scotland.

  Table 3

  House Building Completions by Housing Associations and Local Authorities: 1997-98 to 2002-03

  


Local Authority Area

1997-98

1998-99

1999-00

2000-01

2001-02

2002-03



Scotland

4,622

1,777

5,261

5,408

5,522

2,844



Aberdeen City

309

21

134

158

192

173



Aberdeenshire

280

32

236

105

265

133



Angus

136

69

131

131

70

24



Argyll and Bute

282

68

46

147

77

6



Clackmannanshire

12

29

51

24

44

0



Dumfries and Galloway

83

133

76

73

214

58



Dundee City

172

136

154

231

317

92



East Ayrshire

58

30

52

87

60

98



East Dunbartonshire

0

22

15

40

49

4



East Lothian

27

0

94

46

27

0



East Renfrewshire

17

0

134

76

41

30



Edinburgh, City of

423

60

613

577

459

105



Eilean Siar

12

0

3

21

22

12



Falkirk

90

0

73

15

97

34



Fife

379

55

448

196

257

145



Glasgow City

820

287

1,133

1,431

1,616

1,200



Highland

183

56

116

212

138

64



Inverclyde

67

114

68

259

113

0



Midlothian

62

24

52

48

6

19



Moray

101

17

32

29

25

0



North Ayrshire

51

91

189

98

25

12



North Lanarkshire

271

30

362

252

225

165



Orkney

12

0

17

27

56

21



Perth and Kinross

178

85

157

202

180

83



Renfrewshire

10

36

86

181

138

80



Scottish Borders, The

20

123

126

96

76

2



Shetland

0

0

57

13

22

1



South Ayrshire

43

30

68

61

64

32



South Lanarkshire

230

0

105

230

236

114



Stirling

56

20

95

87

44

56



West Dunbartonshire

0

187

57

190

219

26



West Lothian

238

22

281

65

148

55



  Source: returns by local authorities to Scottish Executive Development Department Analytical Services Division (Housing Statistics).

Housing

Tommy Sheridan (Glasgow) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive how it will respond to the findings of the Scottish House Condition Survey 2002 and how it will address any issues raised in the survey, with specific reference to (a) homes in disrepair, (b) disability issues, (c) dampness and condensation and (d) energy efficiency.

Ms Margaret Curran: The Scottish Executive will continue to use the Scottish House Condition Survey (SHCS) 2002 to inform the development of policy where useful and appropriate.

  On 16 December 2003, I announced the Executive's response to the recommendations of the Housing Improvement Task Force and the SHCS 2002 will be an important source of information in taking forward the necessary work. We have also made extensive use of the results in developing the Scottish Housing Quality Standard and I will be making an announcement about this shortly.

  On disability and housing, a ministerial response to the report of the Strategy Forum: Equipment and Adaptations, Equipped for Inclusion, will be produced in due course which will take into consideration relevant information from the SHCS 2002.

  The Executive's Central Heating Programme and Warm Deal will continue to tackle the issues identified in the SHCS by providing insulation and central heating. A follow-up SHCS 2002 report on fuel poverty will be produced in March 2004 that will help us see where fuel poverty is most prevalent and what further interventions we can make to improve energy efficiency.

Housing

Tommy Sheridan (Glasgow) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive how it has implemented the recommendations of Stewardship and Responsibility: A Policy Framework for Private Housing in Scotland and whether it has any plans to increase investment in housing to address the current housing situation and its effect on health.

Ms Margaret Curran: The Executive's response to the Housing Improvement Task Force's final report was announced on 16 December 2003.

  The Executive has identified some £10 million per annum for implementing the recommendations of the task force. This is intended to meet the cost of introducing specific new initiatives recommended by the task force and is in addition to the direct grant (Private Sector Housing Grant) the Executive now provides to local authorities to fund their expenditure on assistance to private owners.

  Since 1999, the Executive's overall housing budget has increased by 26% in real terms. These resources will also generate substantial additional investment. For example, the housing transfers which have been concluded in Glasgow, Dumfries and Galloway and Scottish Borders will deliver investment of nearly £2 billion in the first 10 years.

Housing

Rhona Brankin (Midlothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people live in mobile homes, broken down by local authority area.

Ms Margaret Curran: Counts of persons living in caravans or other mobile or temporary accommodation are available from the 2001 Census and are published on the Scottish Census Results On-Line website, http://www.scrol.gov.uk . Table UV42 contains counts of accommodation type and is accessed through the "SCROL ANALYSER" section of the website, which allows a choice of areas for analysis.

Housing

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many local authorities have submitted a local housing strategy.

Ms Margaret Curran: I have asked Angiolina Foster, Acting Chief Executive of Communities Scotland, to reply. Her response is as follows:

  To date, eight local authorities have submitted a local housing strategy. These are:

  City of Edinburgh Council

  East Lothian Council

  Glasgow City Council

  Highland Council

  Midlothian Council

  North Lanarkshire Council

  South Ayrshire Council

  West Lothian Council.

Housing

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what sanctions will be applied against local authorities that submit inaccurate figures for housing need.

Ms Margaret Curran: I have asked Angiolina Foster, Acting Chief Executive, of Communities Scotland to reply. Her response is as follows:

  Section 89 of the Housing (Scotland) Act 2001 provides for local authorities to undertake an assessment of housing need as part of their local housing strategies. While the quality of the housing needs assessment is considered by Communities Scotland as part of the assessment of the strategies, there is no statutory approval process and consequently no provision for any statutory sanctions. Where a housing needs assessment, or local housing strategy, does not meet Communities Scotland's assessment criteria we will work with the individual local authority to promote continuous improvement.

Housing

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to consult housing associations directly on housing need.

Ms Margaret Curran: I have asked Angiolina Foster, Acting Chief Executive of Communities Scotland, to reply. Her response is as follows.

  Section 89 of the Housing (Scotland) Act 2001 provides for local authorities to undertake an assessment of housing need as part of their local housing strategies. Guidance produced to assist local authorities in the development of their local housing strategies highlights registered social landlords as key partners in this process. Furthermore, associated guidance on housing needs assessment identifies the record systems maintained by all social landlords as playing an important role in needs assessment.

Housing

Tricia Marwick (Mid Scotland and Fife) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many evictions were carried out in respect of (a) Scottish Borders Housing Association, (b) Glasgow Housing Association and (c) Dumfries and Galloway Housing Partnership property in the quarter ending 30 June 2003.

Ms Margaret Curran: I have asked Angiolina Foster, Acting Chief Executive of Communities Scotland, to respond. Her response is as follows:

  We are unable to supply the information requested. Communities Scotland collects the information on evictions on an annual basis (as at 31 March each year). We will be able to supply annual information about evictions from these organisations after they submit their returns in June this year.

Justice

Mr Adam Ingram (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will propose that the implications of the establishment of a Supreme Court for the United Kingdom be debated in the Scottish Parliament and, if so, when, and what the reasons are for its position on the matter.

Cathy Jamieson: At First Minister's Questions on 4 December, the First Minister indicated the intention of the Executive to seek a debate in the Parliament on the proposals for the establishment of a UK Supreme Court.

  The date will be finalised in the near future.

Justice

George Lyon (Argyll and Bute) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many prosecutions there have been for evasion of duty on Scotch whisky in each of the last five years.

Cathy Jamieson: Information at the level of detail requested is not held centrally. Any such cases will be included within the statistics for prosecutions of revenue and excise offences, the latest available data for which are given in the following table:

  Persons Proceeded Against in Scottish Courts for Revenue and Excise Offences (Excluding Vehicles and Drugs)1, 1997-2001.

  


Year

Number



1997

27



1998

38



1999

15



2000

3



2001

2



  Note:

  1. Where main offence.

Justice

Michael Matheson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-34924 by Colin Boyd QC on 18 March 2000, what progress is being made with the cataloguing of relevant material by the National Archives of Scotland (NAS) regarding the shooting at Dunblane School and whether a decision has been made by the Lord Advocate on whether any further papers are to be made publicly available.

Colin Boyd QC: Officials from the National Archives of Scotland began the cataloguing process in March 2003 and are hoping to have it completed by February 2004 in accordance with NAS business objectives. This target is now formally included in the NAS corporate plan for 2003-04.

  The cataloguing process involves reading each document fully and providing a summary of its content. The productions from the inquiry consist of 106 sections of documentation, consisting of 36 lever arch files and additional miscellaneous documents running to many tens of thousands of pages. It is estimated that the material under the extended closure occupies five metres in length of storage space at NAS. When cataloguing is complete consideration requires to be given to releasing material that does not identify children and does not contravene data protection legislation by disclosing personal data in relation to living individuals.

  The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) is liasing closely with NAS and officials from both organisations met recently to review the material catalogued thus far. COPFS officials will be providing me with recommendations about what material can be released in its entirety, what material can be released in an edited format to "anonymise" data and what is unsuitable for release. This is an extremely resource intensive exercise but when it is complete I will be able to reach a decision on release.

Mental Health

Mr Adam Ingram (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive when the review and assessment of mental health services will be completed.

Malcolm Chisholm: The interim report of the National Assessment of Mental Health Services and 15 locality reports were published on 10 December 2003 (Bib. numbers 30239, 30221-30234 and 30236). The final report is expected to be completed in February.

  The reports will inform the drafting of joint NHS board and local authority local implementation plans, setting out for each area what services need to be put in place to implement the new act from April 2005. Further funding of £15 million over three years was announced on 19 November 2003 to help this process.

Mental Health

Mrs Margaret Ewing (Moray) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what statutory regulations apply to the training of statutory organisations in respect of careful handling of people with mental illness and whether any specific information is given to police, teachers and GPs on this matter.

Malcolm Chisholm: No such regulations presently apply to the training of statutory organisations.

  To inform professionals who may, from time to time, come into contact with people with mental disorder, in 1999 the Executive issued good practice guidance for the police, GPs and other professionals who may be called upon to deal with incidents involving people with mental illness in the community.

Multiple Sclerosis

Irene Oldfather (Cunninghame South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has in respect of the effectiveness of the use of Low Dose Naltrexone in the treatment of multiple sclerosis and of current prescribing practices for Low Dose Naltrexone in the treatment of multiple sclerosis in (a) Ireland, and (b) North America.

Malcolm Chisholm: Naltrexone hydrochloride is licensed as an adjunct to prevent relapse in detoxified, formerly opiate dependent addicts. It is not licensed for the treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS) and there is no information held centrally on its effectiveness when used in the treatment of MS. Anecdotal evidence would suggest that Low Dose Naltrexone is not being used by MS specialists in Scotland. However, a clinician can use a medicine outwith its licensed indications if it is considered to be an appropriate treatment for an individual patient. In these circumstances the clinician bears a greater degree of responsibility for the use of the medicine.

  The Executive does not hold information on the use of Low Dose Naltrexone in Ireland or America. Some information on the use of Low Dose Naltrexone in multiple sclerosis, including in America, can be found on the Multiple Sclerosis Research Centre website at www.msrc.co.uk.

Multiple Sclerosis

Irene Oldfather (Cunninghame South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider funding clinical trials to monitor the effectiveness of Low Dose Naltrexone in the treatment of multiple sclerosis.

Malcolm Chisholm: The Chief Scientist Office (CSO) within the Scottish Executive Health Department has responsibility for encouraging and supporting research into health and health care needs in Scotland. CSO is largely a response mode funder of research and this role is well known and advertised throughout the health care and academic community.

  CSO is not currently directly funding any research, including clinical trials, on multiple sclerosis (MS). This is due to the fact that no research proposals on MS have been received in recent years. CSO would be pleased to consider research proposals for innovative MS studies of a sufficiently high standard. These would be subject to the usual peer and committee review.

Multiple Sclerosis

Irene Oldfather (Cunninghame South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to ensure that the most effective possible treatments are provided for people with multiple sclerosis (MS).

Malcolm Chisholm: The Executive is participating in the UK-wide risk sharing scheme, which makes available disease-modifying drugs MS to patients assessed as suitable for treatment. There has been good progress in implementing this scheme. We are also funding the development of a Managed Care Network in Forth Valley for people with MS, which includes standards for services in primary care and in hospital, endorsed by NHS Quality Improvement Scotland. We wish to see these MS networks developed across Scotland.

Multiple Sclerosis

Irene Oldfather (Cunninghame South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the average annual cost for each patient is of prescribing beta interferon for the treatment of multiple sclerosis.

Malcolm Chisholm: The Executive supports the risk-sharing scheme, which allows patients meeting criteria by the Association of British Neurologists to receive treatment with beta interferon or glatiramer acetate, another drug used in the treatment of multiple sclerosis. The pharmaceutical companies participating in the scheme have agreed terms for the supply of their products under the scheme.

  The drug costs per patient per year of the beta interferons included in the scheme are: Avonex - £8,502; Betaferon - £7,259; Rebif - £7,513 lower dose, £8,942 higher dose. Patients in the scheme will be monitored at regular intervals and the prices paid by NHSScotland for the drugs will be adjusted according to whether expected patient benefits are realised.

  The scheme is explained in Health Department Letter (2002) 6, a copy of which has been placed in the Parliament's Reference Centre (Bib. number 20653).

Multiple Sclerosis

Irene Oldfather (Cunninghame South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the estimated annual cost would be for each patient of prescribing Low Dose Naltrexone for the treatment of multiple sclerosis.

Malcolm Chisholm: Naltrexone hydrochloride is a prescription only medicine licensed as an adjunct to prevent relapse in detoxified, formerly opiate dependent addicts. Naltrexone hydrochloride is not licensed for the treatment of multiple sclerosis.

  The British National Formulary, which contains up-to-date information about medicines, including cost, states that Nalorex tablets (Naltrexone hydrochloride 50mg) cost £42.51 for a 28-tablet pack. The cost is that before the addition of any pharmacy fees and deduction of any pharmacy discount or patient charges.

  The estimated annual cost for any patient prescribed Low Dose Naltexone will depend on the dosage prescribed and duration of treatment.

NHS Funding

Carolyn Leckie (Central Scotland) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-4244 by Malcolm Chisholm on 5 December 2003, whether the "agreed formula" for allocating public capital resources is adequate in light of the charitable funding of some equipment.

Malcolm Chisholm: The Arbuthnott Formula is considered to be an appropriate way of allocating NHSScotland capital funds as it ensures an equitable distribution of capital resources. Thereafter it is for each NHSScotland board to decide, locally, how best to utilise these funds to meet the health care needs of its resident population taking account of national and local priorities. The Arbuthnott percentages for future years will increase or decrease to take account of population movements as the formula is revised annually. Firm allocations for 2004-05 and 2005-06 will be calculated on the basis of the updated percentages.

  Charitable funding of equipment or other such donations, whilst welcome, is not central to the national budgetary calculation or financial planning arrangements for NHSScotland boards. The level of capital resources allocated to NHSScotland boards is not and should not be dependant upon them.

NHS Staff

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what ongoing training is available to NHS staff in hospitals in each NHS board area in respect of paediatric intensive care.

Malcolm Chisholm: This information is not held centrally. However, there is a recognised Specialist Practitioner Qualification for Paediatric Intensive Care available through Glasgow Caledonian University. Over the past five years, 42 students started the course, 26 have completed, 15 are in the process of completing, and one person has withdrawn.

NHS Staff

Mr David Davidson (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance it has issued to NHS staff on dealing with violent patients; what support is given to NHS staff on dealing with violence in their workplace, and whether there are any plans to review current advice and introduce new guidelines on this issue.

Malcolm Chisholm: The Scottish Executive issued guidance to NHSScotland on dealing with violent patients in January last year as part of the "Managing Health at Work" Partnership Information Network (PIN) Guideline. The guideline has dedicated sections on protecting the health, safety and welfare of people working alone and protecting against violence and aggression at work and includes the ability to withhold treatment in certain circumstances.

  NHS employers are required to meet or exceed PIN Guidelines and they form an integral part of the Staff Governance Standard. The Managing Health at Work PIN states that arrangements for supporting staff should include, for example, rapid access to medical treatment if necessary, time off work to recover from the physical or psychological effects of an incident, access to counselling and support from management when dealing with the police and with any subsequent court proceedings.

  PIN Guidelines are prepared in partnership with the trade unions, professions and NHSScotland and are intended to be reviewed every two years.

  I recently launched the violence and aggression campaign to raise public and staff awareness and arrangements are being made to follow this with a conference at the end of February to develop a strategy with the Service to take forward action on violence and aggression.

NHS Staff

Brian Adam (Aberdeen North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether information on the number, grade and age of staff in the NHS is gathered, broken down by profession and NHS board, to assist in workforce planning and, if so, by whom.

Malcolm Chisholm: Information on the number, grade and age of staff in the NHS, broken down by profession and NHS board, is collected by the Information and Statistics Division of the Common Services Agency of NHSScotland. These data are used to assist in workforce planning exercises.

NHS Waiting Times

Mr Bruce McFee (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the current average waiting time is for a patient requiring knee replacement surgery within NHS Greater Glasgow (a) in an NHS hospital and (b) on the NHS in a private hospital, broken down by hospital.

Malcolm Chisholm: Provisional information for the year ended 30 September 2003 shows that the median waiting time for knee joint replacement surgery (undertaken in NHS and contracted private sector hospitals) in Greater Glasgow NHS Board area of residence, was 264 days. Due to data recording difficulties currently being experienced it is not possible to provide separate waiting times information for patients treated in NHS and contracted private sector hospitals.

  There are particular UK-wide pressures in the specialty of orthopaedics. Since September 2002, we have made over £9 million available to NHSScotland specifically to speed up treatment for patients awaiting hip or knee joint replacement surgery, and to help ensure delivery of the nine months national maximum waiting time for in-patient and day case treatment, including knee replacement surgery, from the end of last year.

Parliamentary Constituences

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what consultations it has had with Her Majesty's Government on the terms of reference for the proposed commission on the coterminosity of parliamentary boundaries in Scotland, in particular on its membership, budget, staffing and timetable for reporting.

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what recommendations it has made to Her Majesty's Government in respect of the proposal to establish a coterminosity commission, in particular on the principle of establishing the commission, its remit, composition, staffing and timetable for reporting

Patricia Ferguson: The Scottish Executive is in regular contact with Her Majesty's Government on a wide range of issues, including those arising from its welcome decision to legislate in the current session to maintain the size of the Scottish Parliament. In this connection, in line with a recommendation made by the Scottish Executive, Her Majesty's Government announced in December 2002 that it accepted the principle of a commission to address associated issues: further announcements on the detailed arrangements will be made in due course. Meantime, the Scottish Affairs Select Committee is undertaking an inquiry into the specific issue of co-terminosity.

  Copies of the Scottish Executive's submission to the Scotland Office consultation exercise (Bib. number 24078) and to the Select Committee Inquiry (Bib. number 30504) have been placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre.

Planning

Rhona Brankin (Midlothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether there are any plans to strengthen the requirement for neighbour notification in the planning process.

Mrs Mary Mulligan: Your Place, Your Plan , a white paper on public involvement in planning, published in March 2003, contains measures to enhance and strengthen public involvement in the planning system including proposals to change neighbour notification procedures. In particular, it states that our intention is to transfer responsibility for neighbour notification from the applicants to the planning authorities and to increase the period for representations from 14 to 21 days. The measures contained in the white paper will be taken forward when time and resources permit and in full consultation with stakeholders.

  A copy of the white paper is available in the Parliament's Reference Centre (Bib. number 27246).

Planning

Rhona Brankin (Midlothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether there are any plans to strengthen the requirements for advertising planning applications.

Mrs Mary Mulligan: Measures to improve arrangements for advertising planning applications are contained in Your Place, Your Plan , a white paper on public involvement in planning, published in March 2003. These include a requirement for councils to publish details of where weekly lists of planning applications can be viewed and to make such lists available on the internet. The measures contained in the white paper will be taken forward when time and resources permit and in full consultation with stakeholders.

  A copy of the white paper is available in the Parliament's Reference Centre (Bib. number 27246).

Pollution

Roseanna Cunningham (Perth) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) complaints, (b) court actions and (c) fines there have been against industrial companies for problems related to (i) odours, (ii) water pollution, (iii) air pollution and (iv) human health impact in each year since 1999.

Allan Wilson: The information requested is not held centrally. Complaints and enforcement action against companies which have caused air pollution or pollution of the water environment are matters for the Scottish Environment Protection Agency. Local authorities have a duty under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 to deal with any statutory nuisance in their areas, including offensive odour. Breaches of health and safety legislation are matters for the Health and Safety Executive.

Prescription Charges

Michael Matheson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive which illnesses will be included in its definition of chronic health conditions for its proposed review of prescription charges.

Malcolm Chisholm: The question of which illnesses can be defined as chronic health conditions is among the issues that the review will address. The detailed remit of the review is still under consideration and the consultation process has yet to be determined. However, it is our firm intention to consult widely with patient interest groups, NHS professionals and other stakeholders. This will ensure that the interests and concerns of as many people as possible can be taken into account. We expect the review to commence within the next few months.

Prison Service

Mr Adam Ingram (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many prisoners have a mental health problem, broken down by age, gender and prison.

Cathy Jamieson: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows:

  This information is not collected centrally. We do not have a universal assessment tool for mental health problems.

Prison Service

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the prison population is at its highest recorded level.

Cathy Jamieson: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  No. The prison population reached its highest recorded level of 6,744 on 18 September 2003. Its level was 6,391 on 2 January 2004. It is the highest recorded level at this time of the year.

Prison Service

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what stage it has reached in planning new prisons.

Cathy Jamieson: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) to respond. His response is as follows:

  SPS has identified preferred sites for two new prisons at Low Moss and Addiewell and has submitted planning applications for the proposed developments.

Public Sector Staff

Dr Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made with its policy on the location and relocation of public sector jobs.

Tavish Scott: We have made good progress with the relocation policy. Lifelong learning staff were relocated to Glasgow; the Food Standards Agency has been set up in Aberdeen; the Public Guardian's Office in Falkirk; the National Office of the Scottish Commission for the Regulation of Care and the Offices of the Scottish Social Services Council in Dundee; Scottish Public Pensions Agency in Galashiels; Scottish Water in Dunfermline; the headquarters of Scottish Natural Heritage will be set up in Inverness, the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator will be set up in Dundee, the Scottish Executive Inquiry Reporters' Unit will move to Falkirk, the headquarters of Forestry Enterprise Scotland will be located in Inverness, the headquarters of Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Education will be located in Livingston, the Risk Management Authority will be located in Paisley, the Accountant in Bankruptcy in Ayrshire, and there will be a significant movement of jobs in the Common Services Agency of the National Health Service in Scotland from Edinburgh initially to Aberdeen and to Glasgow, and some VisitScotland headquarters posts will be identified for dispersal from Edinburgh in due course.

  The Executive is committed to ensuring that government in Scotland is efficient and decentralised as part of the wider vision of more accessible, open and responsive government. Relocation policy is part of this vision. It can also help us to address particular problems in certain parts of the country.

  Relocation can provide more cost effective solutions for service delivery by allowing organisations to operate away from some of the pressures of the Edinburgh market. It can assist areas with particular social and economic needs. The impact of a relocation such as the Accountant in Bankruptcy on communities in Ayrshire can be significant. Our small units policy also addresses this issue though with the focus on smaller and more remote communities. The final main objective of relocation policy relates to our vision of a decentralised Scotland. We do not wish to see devolution mean a concentration of all things in Edinburgh or indeed in the central belt.

  We will continue to look at relocation opportunities on a case-by-case basis, considering both the particular circumstances of the body concerned and its fit with our relocation objectives. In examining the value of relocating organisations to particular parts of the country we will take into account indicators of social and economic need and the wider issues of promoting a decentralised Scotland. Important considerations will continue to include the operational effectiveness of the organisation, the level of investment required and the position of staff concerned.

  Headquarters functions of the Scottish Executive departments are currently based in Edinburgh and Glasgow because of the frequent meetings with ministers and the Scottish Parliament. There are, however, a wide range of other organisations covered by the policy where relocation reviews will be carried out.

  Decisions are expected during 2004 on reviews of NHS Health Scotland, NHS Education Scotland, the Mental Health Tribunal Service, the Scottish Building Standards Agency, the Scottish Arts Council, sportscotland, NHS Quality Improvement Scotland and Registers of Scotland, and the Mental Welfare Commission in 2005.

  Rolling this relocation programme forward, I can announce today that we will examine a relocation option for the following bodies:

  Scottish Further and Higher Education Funding Councils, decision, during 2004

  Royal Fine Arts Commission for Scotland (Architecture and Design Scotland), decision, end 2004.

  Consideration is being given to setting up the following bodies:

  Proposed Single Agency for the Administration of Custodial and non-Custodial Sentences

  Proposed National Transport Agency.

  If the Executive decides to proceed in setting up both the above bodies, and subject as appropriate to parliamentary approval, their location and that of the Royal Fine Arts Commission for Scotland (Architecture and Design Scotland), will be determined in accordance with the relocation policy with the presumption against an Edinburgh location. The Scottish Further and Higher Education Funding Councils have come into the programme following lease breaks. They will conduct a location review in which options outwith Edinburgh must be considered.

  These organisations will be examined on a case-by-case basis, with the aim of finding the best location for each organisation, within the context of relocation policy. As part of the process the organisations concerned will continue to consider how most efficiently to conduct their work in line with the most up-to-date practices and the use of technology. There will be opportunities for representations to be made about different locations and full consultation with the organisations concerned and relevant trade unions.

Public Transport

Tommy Sheridan (Glasgow) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many quality bus partnerships have been established in the last year in each local authority area.

Nicol Stephen: I refer the member to the answer given to question S2W-2184 on 6 October 2003. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search .

Renewable Energy

Frances Curran (West of Scotland) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive what funding it has allocated for the development of biomass energy in 2003-04.

Lewis Macdonald: There is no separate funding allocation at present for individual renewable technologies. The Forum for Renewable Energy Development in Scotland will shortly begin investigating ways in which biomass energy might be further developed in Scotland. I expect to receive its recommendations later this year.

Renewable Energy

Frances Curran (West of Scotland) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many biomass projects are currently in operation.

Lewis Macdonald: There is currently one biomass electricity generating plant in Scotland. The plant, powered by chicken litter and operating under a Scottish renewable obligation contract, is located in Fife.

School Meals

Tommy Sheridan (Glasgow) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the current uptake is of (a) school meals and (b) free school meals in comparison with entitlement to such meals, in each local authority area.

Euan Robson: The information requested is given in the Scottish Executive National Statistics Publication, School Meals in Education Authority Schools 2002-03 , which was published on 30 June 2003. Copies of the publication are available in the Parliament's Reference Centre (Bib. number 28265) or on the website: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/stats/bulletins/00261-00.asp .

School Meals

Tommy Sheridan (Glasgow) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive what income level a parent becomes ineligible for a free school meal to be received by their child and whether it has any plans to expand entitlement to free school meals.

Euan Robson: Entitlement to free school meals is passported through the benefits and tax credit system. Legislation sets out the criteria for eligibility for free school meals and states that a pupil is eligible if the pupil or their parent is in receipt of Income Support, Income-based Job Seekers Allowance  or is in receipt of Child Tax Credit but not Working Tax Credit and has an annual income not exceeding the amount determined for the purposes of section 7(1)(a) of the Tax Credits Act 2002 as the income threshold for Child Tax Credit. This threshold is currently set at £13,230.

  There are no plans at present to expand the entitlement.

School Meals

Tommy Sheridan (Glasgow) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many children currently receive free school meals and what the annual costs are of administering the means-tested free school meals system.

Euan Robson: The information in relation to the number of children currently receiving free school meals is given in the Scottish Executive National Statistics Publication, School Meals in Education Authority Schools 2002-03, which was published on 30 June 2003. Copies of the publication are available in the Parliament's Reference Centre (Bib. number 28265) or on the website:

  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/stats/bulletins/00261-00.asp.

  Information on the administrative costs is also published by the Scottish Executive (Bib. number 293820). This relates to the whole school meals service. The administrative duties relative to free school meals can vary between authorities and we are unable to provide a further breakdown of cost. Entitlement to free school meals is, however, passported through the benefits and tax credits system, the administration of which is a reserved matter. Pupils or parents present evidence of receipt of the appropriate benefits and/or tax credits to the local authority who will arrange for the child to receive free school meals. The local authority report the numbers of pupils receiving free school meals when they submit their annual assessment report.

Scotland Act 1998

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether there has been any change to the list of cross-border public authorities as defined in the Scotland Act 1998 since September 2002.

Patricia Ferguson: There has been no change to the list of cross-border public authorities as defined in the Scotland Act since September 2002. The Scotland Act 1998 (Cross-Border Public Authorities) (Specification) Order 1999 (S.I.1999/1319) sets out the cross-border public authorities as specified under section 88 of the Scotland Act 1998. A copy of this order can be found in the Parliament's Reference Centre, Bib. number 23320.

Scottish Natural Heritage

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the latest estimated costs are for the relocation of the headquarters of Scottish Natural Heritage from Edinburgh to Inverness.

Allan Wilson: Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) submitted a project plan on 31 October which contained a cost estimate of £22 million for the entire relocation package. The elements contained in the plan are currently subject to discussion between SNH and Executive officials.

Scottish Water

Dennis Canavan (Falkirk West) (Ind): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will direct Scottish Water to hold board meetings in public.

Ross Finnie: No. We already have in place a direction covering public consultation. In 2004, as well as its annual consultative meeting, the board will hold a further three public consultative meetings in Dundee, Edinburgh and Oban where local stakeholders, customer representative groups and members of the public will have the opportunity to question board members directly on issues of concern to them. These additional meetings will be advertised on Scottish Water's website and in the local press, and local stakeholders and customer representative groups will be invited to attend.

Scottish Water

Mr Bruce McFee (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what standards customers should expect of Scottish Water in relation to repairing burst water pipes.

Ross Finnie: This is an operational matter for Scottish Water. I will ask the Chief Executive to write to you on this matter.

Scottish Water

Mr Bruce McFee (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the average response time is for Scottish Water attending to a burst pipe in (a) Scotland (b) Renfrewshire and (c) Inverclyde.

Ross Finnie: This is an operational matter for Scottish Water. I will ask the Chief Executive to write to you on this matter.

Scottish Water

Mr Bruce McFee (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the average completion time is for Scottish Water to repair a burst pipe in (a) Scotland, (b) Renfrewshire and (c) Inverclyde.

Ross Finnie: This is an operational matter for Scottish Water. I will ask the Chief Executive to write to you on this matter.

Sewel Motions

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-26727 by Patricia Ferguson on 16 July 2002, how many Sewel motions it has lodged with the Parliament in each year since 2001 and how many bills Sewel motions have covered in each year since 1999.

Patricia Ferguson: The information is set out in the following table.

  

 

Number of Sewel Motions

Number of Bills



1999 (from 1 July)

5

5



2000

11

10



2001

13

12



2002

9

7



2003

8

7



Total

46*

41*



  *This difference is accounted for by three bills which each required one supplementary Sewel motion and one bill which required two supplementary Sewel motions.

Smoking

Mr Duncan McNeil (Greenock and Inverclyde) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will publish the new tobacco control action plan building on achievements to date which it committed itself to in Improving Health in Scotland: THE CHALLENGE.

Mr Tom McCabe: Our Tobacco Control Action Plan A Breath of Fresh Air for Scotland is published today. This is the first ever action on tobacco control designed specifically for Scotland. It builds upon and responds to an excellent report by NHS Health Scotland and ASH Scotland Reducing Smoking and Tobacco Related Harm: A Key to Transforming Scotland's Health which is also published today. The plan offers a programme of action covering prevention and education, protection and control and the expansion of smoking cessation services and another £4 million will be made available with effect from 2005-06.

  The plan also addresses the important issue of passive smoking and offers everyone the opportunity to engage in a national debate about steps which might be taken to reduce such risks. This takes forward the commitment made within A Partnership for a Better Scotland.

Speech and Language Therapists

Ms Sandra White (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it will take to address the potential for a reduction in the salary scale for speech and language therapists under the Agenda for Change .

Malcolm Chisholm: Job profiles have not yet been agreed for speech and language therapists and no pay banding has been published. It is therefore not possible at this time to state exactly what the salary will be for speech and language therapists under Agenda for Change. It is hoped that this will be established in the very near future and I will notify Ms White of the position as soon as it has been agreed.

Transport

Margaret Jamieson (Kilmarnock and Loudoun) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration it is giving to the introduction of "talking buses".

Nicol Stephen: The provision of bus passenger information is a matter for individual transport operators and local transport authorities. I understand that the bus industry is in discussions with the Mobility and Access Committee for Scotland regarding achievable improvements to bus passenger information, including provision of "talking buses".

UK Legislation

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-4321 by Cathy Jamieson on 15 December 2003, whether it has discussed the content and implications of Her Majesty's Government's draft Civil Contingencies Bill as part of its regular contact with that government.

Cathy Jamieson: Yes. The Executive has discussed the content and implications of Her Majesty's Government's Civil Contingencies Bill.

Voluntary Sector

Rhona Brankin (Midlothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-3257 by Mrs Mary Mulligan on 22 October 2003, what the successor to the Millennium Volunteer scheme will be and when it will commence.

Ms Margaret Curran: A decision on the future of Millennium Volunteers is yet to be made. Volunteer Development Scotland has presented draft recommendations on the future of the scheme to the Scottish Executive, and these will be considered in the context of the Scottish Executive volunteering strategy and the proposals of the Scotscorps Working Group. An announcement will be made shortly.

Water Charges

Tommy Sheridan (Glasgow) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-4175 by Ross Finnie on 5 December 2003, what the annual average increase in water and sewerage charges for domestic customers has been in the last five years, expressed also as a percentage; whether it has evaluated the impact of the increase of such bills on low-income households, and how those on low and fixed incomes can meet increased charges without falling further into poverty.

Ross Finnie: It is not possible to provide a meaningful figure for the average annual increase in water and sewerage charges for domestic charges in the last five years. This is because there were six widely different sets of charges across Scotland five years ago compared to two sets (one for north area and one for east and west areas) in 2003-04, to which where applicable, further discounts were and are applied.

  Whilst all customers must contribute to services provided which include the provision of safe drinking water and the treatment of waste water before it is returned to the environment, provisions exist to assist vulnerable groups. These include improving efficiency at Scottish Water, which will ease pressure on charges for all customers and by retaining the link between water charges and council tax banding and discount arrangements.

Water Charges

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-4238 by Ross Finnie on 3 December 2003, whether the situation, whereby Scottish Water and the Water Industry Commissioner agree on a charging scheme but ministers do not seek a detailed assessment of the impact on customers, is consistent with ministers being accountable for matters within their portfolio.

Ross Finnie: Yes, it is consistent. Ministers set the strategic direction for charges for the period 2002-06, setting the maximum level of revenue that can be collected and the principles that charges should be harmonised across Scotland and reflect the costs of provision. Scottish Water and the Water Industry Commissioner in setting charges for individual customers act within this framework.

Water Industry (Scotland) Act 2002

Murray Tosh (West of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the introduction, enactment and commencement of the Water Industry (Scotland) Act 2002 (Directions in the Interests of National Security) Order 2002 was subject to any protocol agreed between it and Her Majesty's Government; whether it was informed or consulted on the content of the order, and how the Scottish Parliament will be notified of the exercise of powers delegated to UK Ministers which impact on devolved areas of policy.

Ross Finnie: The general principles governing relations between the UK Government and the Executive on matters of mutual interest, including legislation, are set out in the published Memorandum of Understanding .

  In respect of the Water Industry (Scotland) Act 2002 (Directions in the Interests of National Security) Order 2002, the Scottish Executive invited the UK Government to make provision for the central purpose of reinstating powers in respect of Scottish Water that had existed in respect of its predecessor authorities under the Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994. In general the functions of these organisations had transferred to Scottish Water under the Water Industry (Scotland) Act 2002. However, as the reinstatement was beyond the legislative competence of the Scottish Parliament and could not be achieved under the act, it was made by the order under powers conferred for such purposes on UK ministers by the Scotland Act 1998.

  As a general rule, the intention would be to notify the Scottish Parliament of such orders as and when a significant impact on devolved areas of policy is expected. In this case, information about the laying and commencement of the order was provided to the Scottish Parliament in answer to question S1W-26219 and copies of the draft Order (SI 1264 (S4)) were lodged in the Scottish Parliament's Reference Centre (Bib. number 21338). Additionally, directions made by Scottish ministers under that order were notified to the Scottish Parliament in December 2002 and January 2003.

  All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at:

  http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

Water Services

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-4240 by Ross Finnie on 3 December 2003, whether any analysis or assessment has been undertaken on the impact of the introduction of competition, as referred to in the draft Water Services (Scotland) Bill.

Ross Finnie: Sections A17 to A19 and E10 to E12 of the consultation paper accompanying the draft Water Services (Scotland) Bill summarise the Executive's analysis of the expected impact on customers generally of licensed competition in the provision of retail water and sewerage services to non-household customers.

Water Services

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will publish the next stage of its consultation on regulations to improve the quality and standard of private water supplies; how long the consultation period will be, and when it expects to publish the results of the consultation process.

Ross Finnie: Extensive research and collaboration with stakeholders is required before the Scottish Executive will be in a position to finalise the next stage of its consultation on private water supplies. The Executive aims to complete that research and publish a further consultation document during 2004. The official consultation period will be 12 weeks and the Executive aims to publish the results within a few months of the closing date.

Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body

Holyrood Project

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Presiding Officer what budget is available to meet the cost of the opening of the new Parliament building, showing costs of transport, security, hospitality and other components; how these costs were calculated, and what steps the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body will take to avoid any unnecessary expense.

Mr George Reid: No decision has been made yet on the nature of the opening ceremony and therefore no specific budget has been allocated for this purpose. The Clerk/Chief Executive stated in evidence he gave to the Finance Committee on Tuesday 25 November that any funding required would be met from the contingency budget for 2004-05. The Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body would always seek to avoid any unnecessary expense.